NEW DELHI: Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that India’s territorial integrity and national security were non-negotiable and that it was the duty of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to defend the nation.
In a tweet, Rahul Gandhi, who is on a six-day trip to the United Kingdom said, “China builds 1st bridge on Pangong
GOI: We are monitoring the situation.
China builds 2nd bridge on Pangong
GOI: We are monitoring the situation.
India’s National security & territorial integrity is non-negotiable. A timid & docile response won’t do. PM must defend the Nation.”
China builds 1st bridge on Pangong
GOI: We are monitoring the situation.China builds 2nd bridge on Pangong
GOI: We are monitoring the situation.India’s National security & territorial integrity is non-negotiable. A timid & docile response won’t do. PM must defend the Nation.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 20, 2022
His remarks came after reports emerged of China building a second bridge over the disputed Pangong Tso lake in eastern Ladakh.
Earlier in the day, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera while addressing a press conference here said that the Ministry of External Affairs should clarify whether China has “occupied” Indian territory.
“It is a very serious issue of concern for each one of us and we would call upon the Prime Minister to forget about his own image, think about the country, think about the brave army, which braving all odds of weather and of the enemy is valiantly protecting our borders,” he said.
Khera said that China has established and is in the process of establishing infrastructure support for the PLA to enable the PLA to bring artillery support through these bridges. “This particular bridge, which is under construction, is a broader bridge as compared to the first bridge,” the Congress leader said.
He further targeted the government saying that we are demoralizing our own armed forces and it is shocking to see that the Ministry of External Affairs is undermining the Defence Ministry.
“As we speak, China is trespassing. As we speak, China is violating the ceasefire agreement and this is the same ceasefire agreement under which India gave up the vantage points that we had under our position and we got that vantage point under our position, thanks to our brave army. So, whenever the Ministry of External Affairs speaks, I don’t know what is their compulsion, it appears though that every single Ministry of this government has one-point agenda, to protect and promote ‘howsoever’, fake it is, the image of the Prime Minister,” he said
Khera said, “We want an immediate clarification from the government of India on the words used by the Ministry of External Affairs yesterday that it is felt that that area is under Chinese occupation.”